As part of its pledge to ensure more people have their own family doctor, the Ontario Government has introduced the new Primary Care Act, aimed at expanding teaching clinics and connecting 300,000 more people to a family doctor and primary care team.
And Northern Ontario's NOSM University will take part in the process, said a news release from the Ministry of Health.
The new legislation, if passed, will make Ontario the first Canadian jurisdiction to establish a framework for its publicly funded primary care system so that people in Ontario know what they can expect when accessing primary care services, no matter where they live, said the province.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones said primary care is the foundation of Ontario's health system.
“This first-of-its kind, nation-leading legislation marks a major step forward in our plan to protect our health care system and connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor and primary care team,” said Jones, in the release.
Part of the government initiative is a plan to spend up to $300 million to build as many as 17 new and expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics for Ontario communities that have high rates of residents with no primary care.
This brings the government’s total investment in Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan to $2.1 billion, said the release.
This will include partnerships with medical schools such as NOSM University, McMaster University Queens University, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, and Western University.
The new clinics will train family doctors and other health care professionals such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and registered nurses, said the release.
The clinics combine direct patient care with hands-on learning for primary care learners, allowing approximately 300,000 additional Ontarians to be connected to primary care. Further details about where the clinics will be located will be announced this summer, said the release.